Kurtwood Smith tells the cast of T70s show hat were able to pick up right where they left off in That 90’s show (give or take a few decades).
Smith, 80, played Pink Forman in the hit comedy that ended in 2006. She reprized her character for the Netflix spin-off, which premiered in January 2023.
Smith spoke with Us weekly exclusively in the premiere of the second season of the spinoff. He said bringing back his old characters was “easy” and “fun,” and praised Laura Prepon (Donna) for her growth since the show’s original broadcast.
(Left to right) Kurtwood Smith as Pink Forman, Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti, Callie Haverda as Leia Forman, Topher Grace as Eric Forman and Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty
Patrick Wymore/Netflix
“Laura also directs now, she directed half the shows this year,” Smith said. “It’s a real pleasure to work with her in that situation and see how she’s developed, and yet, acting-wise, it’s [the] “The same old Donna.”
That ’70s show managed to cultivate some of the most iconic moments in pop culture history. It’s also responsible for catapulting its younger stars Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama and Danny Masterson into the spotlight. Created by Mark Brazill, Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner, That ’70s Present focused on a […]
Before T’90s Present hatPrepon directed three episodes of Orange is the new black. He also wrote and directed the 2011 television movie. Neighbors.
Smith and Debra Jo Rupp star in That ’90s Present as Eric’s grandparents (Topher Grace) and Donna’s daughter, Leia (Callie Haverda). Prepon, 44, has a recurring role, while Grace guest stars on the spin-off. Many characters from the original series appear throughout the first season.
“What has made both seasons work so well is the fact that we enjoy each other’s company,” Smith added. “And we had fun doing it. “I think this show is very much about family, you know, a bigger family.”
Laura Prepon as Donna and Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty
Patrick Wymore/Netflix
Season 1 of That 90’s show received positive reviews and rose to #4 on Netflix’s High 10 of English-language television titles. The series was renewed for a second season just a month after its debut.
It’s back to Wisconsin! That ’70s Present fans couldn’t be more excited when its new spin-off series was announced, but many wondered if their favorite characters would return. The premise of the reboot, aptly titled That ’90s Present, follows Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti’s daughter Leia, played by Callie Haverda, as she visits her grandparents. […]
For Smith, the idea of bringing That show from the 70s Returning in a spin-off seemed prudent.
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“When we finish 70 Show, we did 200 episodes. And I thought that was the end. It just didn’t occur to me that there would be any return,” she said. “But then when they started bringing shows back and redoing them, I thought, ‘Well, they could do that with our show.’ It’s easy since Debra Jo and I are still around and working. Sure enough, one day they called me and said, ‘What do you think about this?’ And I said, ‘Let’s do it.'”
All 16 episodes That present of the 90s: Part 2 will be released in two batches of episodes. The first episodes will be released on Thursday, June 27 on Netflix and the second set will follow on October 24.
With reporting by Mariel Turner
